Valorant's Vanguard Update Permanently Disables DMA Cheat Hardware, Riot Clarifies

Overview

A new update to Riot's Vanguard anti-cheat system has reportedly rendered DMA (Direct Memory Access) cheat hardware permanently inoperable for Valorant cheaters. Riot has clarified that regular PC hardware is completely unaffected — only dedicated cheat devices are targeted.

What Is DMA Cheating?

DMA cheating uses external hardware — typically inserted between storage and motherboard — to read and manipulate game memory from outside the operating system, making it difficult for software-level anti-cheats to detect. It's one of the more advanced and expensive forms of cheating, popular among determined cheaters who want to avoid software-based detection.

What the Update Does

According to reports and community discussion, Vanguard's latest update targets DMA firmware directly. After triggering, the cheat hardware becomes permanently non-functional even without Valorant installed or after uninstalling Vanguard itself. The only known fix is a full Windows OS reinstall — a significant outcome for cheaters who invested hundreds of dollars in this hardware.

Riot's Clarification

Riot issued an official statement: "Vanguard does not in any way brick PCs or PC components or PC software." The company confirmed that the image circulating on social media showing "bricked" devices depicts "cheat hardware devices sold explicitly for cheating in Valorant." Riot added, "Vanguard now makes those devices worthless for Valorant, but does not in any way brick PCs."